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June 27, 2006
I Survived, I Survived!
It's late and I want to go to bed, but I also want to let you all know that indeed, I survived my very first crit. And I loved it. It was scary at times but I was okay. Very nice group of people. I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer's races!
I pray before I do a lot of things and you better believe I was praying before this race! My prayer for safety (above all else!) was definitely answered. There were only 7 riders tonight. Thank you God! It made for a nice intro into cycling races. There weren't any large packs to worry about. Usually there are 15-20 riders so if that's the case the next time I go, I'll at least have one race under my belt and be more ready to take on the challenge of riding with a larger group.
Cycling is interesting. The races aren't like running races, or at least the running races I've run. Lots of strategy and teamwork and slowing down and breaking away and riding easy and then hard and what it all boiled down to at the end was one gigantic sprint towards the finish line. As you might imagine, I didn't win. I got passed like I was standing still! But I also don't really know how to sprint on a bike so I want to work on that and try to stick with them next time.
My goal was to stay with the lead pack and to live. I accomplished both. I took the lead with 2 laps left and really tried to go hard but all that happened was the 3 riders that were left just latched onto me and drafted off me and then outsprinted me at the end. I was fourth. Good enough. I figured I wasn't going to be able to break away but I wanted to try. They didn't laugh at me - like I said - they are nice people, but they were probably thinking "rookie!" and happy to have me in there to break the wind on the last mile. :) I have a lot to learn for sure. But I'm more than happy to keep coming back and trying again!
After the run I ran a very weak 20 minutes with O and Roxy (who came to cheer me on!). It wasn't fast and it wasn't great but I need to get runs in somehow this week and since I'm racing again tomorrow I figured tonight was as good as any! There is usually only 1 race/week but this week there are two because of the July 4th holiday next week. Either way - I worried a lot about a nothing (as is usually the case for me) and had a blast tonight. The worst part of the whole night was everyone making fun of my helmet (yes - I bought it at Target and no, it did not cost $200 like everyone else's :). And the best part of the night was trying something totally new and loving it!
Good night all!
Posted by beth at June 27, 2006 11:06 PM
Comments
great job beth!!! unlike in running, good drafting in cycling can amount from 40 to 60% energy savings so sucking on the "leader's" wheel is incorporated into racing strategy. There is usually a team "primadonna" who is draft-helped by the "domestiques" (servants)along the course. I prefer the italian version for this job "gregario" which loosely translates as friend rather than slave. Often competitors going for a win will try to break at least in pairs to take turns with the lead and help each other even if they will eventually have to try to beat each other. Yes, this means that in order to try and win (if your domestiques are left behind) you need your opponent's help; a mentally challenging concept for purely competitive people but that's the way it is... I am thinking of Greg's recent entry on there being more to sports than annihilating your opponent... sometimes in sports like in life you'll find you actually need you opponent to win, in more ways, sometimes bigger ways, than one... :) all the best, corrado
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at June 28, 2006 4:12 AM
Congratulations and I'm glad to hear you'll be right back at it! Sounds like a lot of fun!
Posted by: Caitlin at June 28, 2006 7:18 AM
Nicely done, Beth! You are brave! I have been on a couple of bike trips where I had to cycle with a group, and I was so nervous - and we weren't even racing, either! I don't have the nerves to get in there and jockey for positions. Congrats on your 4th!
Posted by: buckeyerunner at June 28, 2006 9:12 PM
4th on your first time... GREAT JOB...sounds like you kept you cool in the pack...
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at June 29, 2006 2:49 PM